Reisman: Randy Credico goes from comic to candidate for governor

Everybody from President Barack Obama to Facebook "friends" has commented on the tragic death of Robin Williams, so it seemed appropriate to bring up the subject with Randy Credico.

You may not have heard of him but Credico, a self-described libertarian, is running in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Zephyr Teachout. In another life he was a stand-up comedian who played all the Vegas hotels (most of which since have been torn down) and blew his one shot on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

Credico and Williams crossed paths on the comedy club circuit. He saw him perform at the Improv in 1975, before the "Mork and Mindy" days. Credico said Williams lifted a couple of his jokes, one in particular involving William Rehnquist, the conservative chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The joke went like this: "I went to a reception for William Rehnquist last night. I didn't get in because I wasn't properly dressed. I brought the white robe, but I forgot the hood."

Credico said he didn't mean to disparage Williams. "He was a very talented guy," he said. "I loved him in the movie 'Popeye.' "

Randy Credico, a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.(Photo: submitted)

In 1981, Credico was working at Dangerfield's and says after a show one night, he, Williams and another comedian, Sam Kinison, got together "and did a lot of blow; you know, cocaine."

Williams struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction for most of his career.

"Other than that, I've had my own battles with cocaine," said Credico, 60.

Credico used to do impressions. "I used to do a great Reagan." He did Reagan when he appeared on "The Tonight Show" in 1984. The show gave him $2,000 airfare, which he sold back for coach. They paid him $650, which was scale. When he checked into his hotel room, he thought the booze in the mini-bar was free. "So I drank like 12 Baileys and Cream. It cost me $400."

Credico's bit, heavy on politics, was getting a lot of laughs. The Reagan stuff was killer. Then he blew it by making a joke about Jeane Kirkpatrick, the U.N. ambassador.

"I said, 'You know Jeane Kirkpatrick, with some of the things she says you have to ask yourself seriously, Did Eva Braun die in that bunker in 1945?' That was a little over the top, I suppose."

The audience went "Whoa!"

Credico's other mistake was doing an impression of Carson. "He didn't like it." Comedians in those days knew they had succeeded if Carson invited them over to "the chair" to chat after their routines. Credico didn't get such approval. Carson gave him an "OK" sign and said, "Good stuff," and that was it. Credico's comedy career was finished.

"I'm the only comedian who did 'The Tonight Show' whose price went down the next day," he said.

If nothing else, Credico is refreshingly honest. His transformation from a comedian (he prefers "political satirist") to a political activist is documented in the one-hour "60 Spins Around the Sun," which includes his ill-fated "Tonight Show" spot and can be found on YouTube.

Talking to him is like taking a journey down an earnest stream of consciousness, one that includes numerous and disparate references to history, politics and show business. For instance, he will tell you that his favorite New York governor is William Seward and that Zephyr Teachout reminds him of Ruth Buzzi.

Credico said neither Teachout nor Cuomo have a sense of humor, so they would do poorly against him in a debate. "People warm up to me," he said. "I'm good on camera. It would be like Jack Kennedy against two Nixons."

His platform, outlined as a "New Deal for New York," includes eliminating bridge and road tolls, eliminating the Rockefeller drug laws, closing Indian Point nuclear plant and tearing down Attica prison. He is against state-sponsored gambling as well as the SAFE Act, though he is personally afraid of guns. Credico said he would tax the super rich, especially the denizens of Wall Street.

"We're all Americans and we're all New Yorkers," he said. "People who are well off should not be dodging, but there are so many loopholes — and they're just going to have to pay their fair share when the economy is in the shape that it's in."

Later in the day, he called me in his Reagan voice to say he was making an appearance at the White Plains train station, coming up from the city. I waited next to a sign that asks riders not to toss gum on the platform. I missed him. I hope he didn't sleep past the stop and wake up in Wassaic or, worse, get into some kind of trouble.

I tried to reach Randy Credico late last night on his cell phone, but he did not answer.

Now I know why.

Credico had an altercation with police in the Bronx and was arrested, according to a story posted this morning on Alternet.com.

The Alternet story says Credico was at the Dyckman Street subway stop where he saw two white men "aggressively" stopping a black man. Credico began to videotape the incident.

The two men turned out to be plainclothes transit police. Alternet said the cops put Credico in handcuffs. It was not clear exactly what Credico did to justify an arrest, but Alternet said Credico was charged with "menacing."

The website also noted that Credico has been a frequent critic of the New York City police.

He was held overnight and is expected to be arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court later this morning.